Landing gear



H. E. SWIFT LANDING GEAR May 10, 1932.

Filed Aug. 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. E. SWIFT May 10, 1932.

LANDI NG GEAR Filed Aug. 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w W Howard E 6W1; f i

H. E. SWIFT LANDING GEAR May 10, 1932.

3 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1929 INVENTOR Patented May 10, 1932 ,UNITED} STATES 1,857,611. v a i HOWARD nswrrr', or wnsz'rrr'nnn, MASSACHUSETTS LANDING GEAR 1 Application fi1edAugi1 st 15, 1929. serial 1%., 386,053. a u i This invention relates to a landinggear and has relation more particularly to a mechanism of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in conjunctionwith a semi? 5 trailer, and it is an object of the invention to provide a gear of this kind which, when not in use, may'bereadily folded or compact- .ed and wherein it is so constructed that. when folded or compactedthe various parts are so balanced that no lock isrequi-red.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of thisfwhich in its folded or compacted adjustment .may be readily caused to drop into operative or working position under the influence of strainimposed thereon, such as a, push with afoot on the hub of a landing. wheel sufiici'ent to carrythe load of the folded or compacted gear beyond its center. T p

A still further object of'the invention is to provide a device of this ln'nd"wh1ch, when its working or operative adjustment, affords a solid frame from the trailer to the ground and which embodies a construction'requiring but a single brace forieach *of the landing wheels. I V a a T An additional object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this kind which can be readily folded or compacted-when not in use and wherein thestructure is such that the load of the mechanism when folded or compacted is balanced by a spring and whereby such folded or compacted mechanism may be readily and conveniently dropped'into working or operative position under the influence of strain imposed thereon by the foot of a person. The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the severalpartsof myimproved landing gear whereby, certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fullysetforth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. p ".1

In ,order that m'yinvention may be the better understood, 1 Will nowproceed'to dedisclosed.

scribe the same with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view side elevation of a landing gear constructed inaccordance with an embodiment'of myinv'ention, the associ- Q55 atedportion of the frame of a semi-trailer being shown in fragment; f v Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation and loo'king in the direction ofv the arrowsas indicated by the line 2-2 Q0 jonFigurel; a 1

Figure?) is an enlargedfragmentaryview; partly in section and partly nelevation of' a knee 3o nt and ts assoeiated parts as herein Figure 4 isa side elevationiof the embodi- 5 merit shown' in Flgure 1 and showlng the landing gear in elevated or runningp'osition.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a portion. of aside member F of the frame of a semi-trailer with which my improved landing gearis adapted to be coupled "This member 1 at desired points spaced f lengthwise thereof has suitably A anchored thereto the dependingbrackets 2 and'3. An 1. .5 elongated leg 4, preferably tubular, has its upper end portion. freely engaged with a cross bar .5, each end portion ofwhich'being operatively supported by a bracket 2. a The opposite or lowerportionof the legA carries j a sleeveor barrel 6 which snugly and .freely surrounds an. end portionofthe stub shaft 7 extending out from thea'dj acent endiof the lower cross member'S. The stub shaft 7 "has rotatably mounted thereon'a landing wheel 9; ".8

In Figure 2' of the accompanying drawings only onefside portion ofthe device is illustrated andlit is to ,bet understood ,th atthe structure as dis closedby th'isfigure is duplip V cated at the opposite side of the, trailer frame; 2

Approximately midway it'sends thebar 5 has fixed thereto an end portion of a for ward'ly andd 'o wnwardly directed lever arm 10, the forward and lower end portionlof' which is pivotally conneeted, as at 11,. with Q an endportion of a locking lever 12. This lever is disposed inwardly and downwardly and has itsopposite orfl'ower end portion piv- V, otally connected, as at 14, with'the outer end 7 portion ofa l o cklever tripping arm The v opposite sides of the trailer frame.

adjacent end portions of the lever 12 and arm 15 adjacent their pivotal connection 14 coact to form a toggle joint 16, to permit said joint to break upon upward movement Each of the knee joints comprises two blocks 19 and 20, adjacent ends of which abutting, as at 21, (Figure 3), when said blocks are in alignment. These blocks 19 and 20 are provided respectively with the oppositely disposed reduced'extensions 22 and 23. The block 19is provided with the angularly disposed and rearwardly directed spaced ears 24 between which is received the angularly disposed car 25 carried by the second block 20, said ears 24 and 25 being in pivotal connection, with the cross bar 18.

By this means, the blocks 19 and 20 are suported for relative swin in movement u on D D I upward travelof the bar 18, the downward travel of such bar 18 being limited upon the opposed ends of the blocks 19 and 20abutting at 21. In other words, each knee joint is capable of breaking 'only'in one direction and that upwardly.

Each knee joint is arranged inwardly of and in relatively close proximity to a leg .4.

The extension 22 of the block 19 is welded within or otherwise secured to the lower end portion of an elongated tubular thrust member 26. The opposite or upper end portion of the member'26 has secured thereto a laterally disposed arm 27 terminating in an upstanding lug 28 which is pivotally engaged to the rear bracket 3 through the instrumentality of the cross bar 29. This cross bar 29 is common to the bracket 3 at each side of the trailer frame. I

The extension 23 of the second block 20 is welded or otherwise secured within the upper portionof a second elongated tubular thrust member30, the lower end portion of which carryinga sleeve or cuff 31 completely surrounding the cross member 8.

The bar ,29 at a desired point intermediate its ends has operatively. engaged therewith a depending spring swivel block 32 through which is freely directed an elongated-shank 33. Threaded upon the shank 33 are the nuts 34 for coaction withthe rear end of the block 32 whereby the extent of projection of the shank 33 forwardly of the block 32 maybe adjustedas required to regulate the tension of the load balancing spring 35.

As herein embodied, the load balancing spring 35 is of a coil type and has one end portion engaged with the hook 36 provided at the forward end of the shank 33 while the opposite end portion of the spring 35 is operatively engaged with the hook member 37. This hook member 37 is adapted'to be selectively engaged through one of the series of openings 38 spaced lengthwise of the lever arm 10. I

Freely mounted on the cross rod 18 outwardly of but immediately adjacent to the connection between said rod 18 and the ears 24 and 25 is the hub 39 of a foot lever or pedal40. The hub 39 is provided with a slot or recess providing circumferentially spaced shoulders 41 between which'is arranged an outstanding pin or part 42 carried by the cross rod, 18 so that when the foot lever 40 is kicked clockwise, the knee joints will be broken and at the same time the pivotal connection 14 will move upwardly and when the lever arm 10 passes'downwardly beyond the vertical the spring 35 will operate to lift the gear up into folded or compacted adjustment. When folded or compacted the tension of this spring 35 will maintain the gear in such compacted or folded adjustment without the necessity of using any'locking means. 1 When it' is desired to drop the gear into working or operativerposition it is only necessary to exert requisite'pre'ssure, as by pushing with vvthe foot,.upon a wheel 9 or cross member 8. to carry the load back over the centeragain. j

The load, "in lifting or compacting the gear, is carried upwardly by an elongated lever 43 having one end portion'flxed to the cross bar5 and disposed downwardly and rearwardly when the'gear is inextended or working position. The opposite or lower end portion of this lever43 has pivotally connected thereto, as at 44, an end portion of an elongated strap 45, the opposite end portion of which being engaged, as at 46, with the cross member:8...

It is believed to be entirely clear that when the-lever 12 and arm 15 are in working or effective adjustment as well" as the member '26 and associated block 30,'they are substan} tially rigid.

From the thought to be obvious "that a landing. gear constructed in accordancewith my invention is particularly well adapted'for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and

it will also be obvious thatmy invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and forthis reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfto the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown'in carrying foregoing description it is.

out my invention in practice except as herethrust member.operativelyengaged.iWithfthe I coss .bari'of the ground 7 engaging ,means; a second thrust member operatively engaged inafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a vehicle frame, a landing gear therefor comprising a crossbar rotatably supported by the frame, a leg operatively engaged with the frame for swinging movement toward or from the frame, ground engaging means operatively engaged with the leg including a second cross bar, a third cross bar carried by the frame at a point spaced from the first cross bar, a

thrust member operatively engaged with the cross bar of the ground engaging means, a

second thrust member operatively engaged with the third named cross bar, a knee o nt connecting the adjacent ends of the thrust members including another cross bar, a lever arm fixed to the first named cross bar, means engageable with the lever arm for constantly urging the same in one direction, a lever operatively engaged with the lever arm, a tripping arm operatively engaged with said first named lever and with the crossbar comprised in the knee joint, a lifting lever fixed to the. first named cross bar, and a strap operativelyconnected to the lifting lever and t0 the cross bar comprised in the ground engaging means. 2. In combination with a vehicle frame, a

landing gear therefor comprising a cross bar rotatably supported by the frame, a leg ope'ratively engaged with the frame for swinging movement toward or from the frame, ground engaging means operatively engaged with the leg including a second cross bar, a third cross bar carried by the frame atva point spaced from the first cross bar, a thrust member operatively engaged with the cross bar of the ground engaging means, a second thrust mem-v ber operatively engaged with the a third named cross bar, a knee joint connecting the adjacent ends of the thrust members including another cross bar, a lever arm fixed to the first named cross bar, means engageabie with the lever arm for constantly urging the same in one direction, a lever operatively engaged with the lever arm, a tripping arm operatively engaged with said first named lever and with the cross bar comprised in the knee joint, a lifting lever fixed to the first named cross bar, and a strap operatively connected to the lifting lever and to the cross bar comprised in the ground engaging means, the trip arm and the lever connected thereto having coacting means for limiting the relative movement thereof in one direction.

3. In combination with a vehicle frame, a landing gear therefor comprising a cross bar rotatably supported bythe frame, a leg operatively engaged with the frame for I engaged with the leg including a second cross bar, a third cross bar carried by the frame at a point spaced from the first cross bar, a

withthe. third named-cross bar, a kneeijoint conn'ecting the adjacent ends of: the thrust members'includinganothercrossbar, a lever -=arm.fixed to the first: namedcross bar, means engageable with the lever armfor constantly urging the same. in one direction, a lever -op-- eratively :engaged with the lever-arm, fa tripping arm operatively engaged, withsaid first nam'dlevercand with thecrossbar comprised in the knee joint, a lifting leverffixed' to the first namedicrossbar, and a strap operatively .coiine'cted to the lifting leverand to thecross ,barcomprised in the ground engaging means, 2 the knee joint comprising means limiting the relative movement of the thrust members in one' direction. 1 i i r In comblnation with a vehlcleframeya landing gear therefor comprising a cross-bar rotatablysupported by the frame; a leg operatively engaged withvthe frame for swinging movement toward or from the frame, ground engaging means operatively engaged with the leg including a second cross bar, a thirdcross bar carried'by the frame at a point spaced from the first cross bar, a thrust member operatively engaged with the cros bar of the ground engaging means, a second thrust member operatively engaged with the third named' cross bar, a knee joint connecting the adjacent ends of the thrust members including another cross bar, a lever arm fixed to the first named. coss bar, means engageable with cross bar,a strap operatively connected to the lifting lever and to the crossbar comprised in the ground engaging means, and a foot lever operatively engaged withthe cross bar,

of the knee joint and coacting therewith to break saidjoint upon movement of said foot lever in one direction.

5'. A semi-trailer landing gear including in combination a vehicle frame, a support for one end of the semi-trailer pivotallymounted n on the under side of the frame, a lockingto gle for bracing the support, a leverfor brea I ingthe toggle and spring meansfor swinging the support to raise it to running position.

6. A semi-trailer landing gear including.

in combination a vehicle frame, a'support for,

one end of the semi-trailer pivotally mounted on the underside of the frame, a looking I I toggle for bracing the support and preventing its movement'while' supporting the semitrailer, a manually-operable lever for ,break-,

ing the toggle andmeans for swinging the hing position; 7

plvotally mounted support to raise it to run-"f 7. A semi-trailer landing gear including in combination a Vehicle frame, a support for one end of the semi-trailer pivotally mounted on the under side of the frame and adapted to be swung from trailer-supporting to running position, a toggle connecting the 7 lower end of the pivoted support with the frame for bracing the support when in lowered position, manually operated levers for breaking the toggle and spring means for raising the support to running position.-

8. semi-trailer landing gear including in combination a vehicle frame,a support for one end of the semi-trailer pivotally mounted i on the under side of the frame, a locln'ng toggle for bracing the support, a lever for breaking the toggle and spring means for swinging the support to raise it to running position, said spring being connected at its ends on either side of the toggle joint to hold the toggle in looking position until release.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HOWARD E. SWIFT. 

